The Coronavirus pandemic has truly turned the way we work entirely on its head. For many of us accustomed to office life, we have made do by commandeering a corner of our living room or basement to conduct conference calls or host web-based meetings. We have become adept at virtual file transfers and e-commerce and have slackened our dress codes, even work hours. On the best days, it has been entertaining, on the worst, frustrating.

But while the comedic respite of finding a clever background for our next zoom meeting wears off, the reality of returning to the office is starting to creep into the consciousness of many office workers. Let’s face it, there simply are things that cannot be accomplished virtually, or within a six-foot distance of one another. The number of employees affected by shutdowns represents a staggering 81% of the global workforce and soon, a significant portion of that force will be headed back into offices, in close quarters and in tightly-sealed buildings.

We’ve never had to deal with this scenario, and everyone is wondering the same thing…how?

Having no playbook or precedent, the real-estate sector has been left to their own devices to create re-entry protocols and many are buckling under the strain of it. Uncharted territory means building owners and managers are having to assess their properties under the lens of “Coronavirus risk” and determine how they are going to prepare for and instil confidence in a highly skeptical workforce.

Beyond common sense practices such as personal hygiene (handwashing), housekeeping protocols (cleaning of high-touch surfaces) and minimizing groups of workers via alternate shifts or staggered workdays, there are fundamental issues specific to a building that must be considered. Center to this, is the question of a building’s air quality.

For years the RESET standard has been espousing the importance of air quality. Recognized as the standard for continuous air quality monitoring, RESET outlines clear methodologies for monitor deployment and data collection and establishes how to communicate air quality data to building occupants in a clear, concise and reputable way. The RESET standard is uniquely positioned to address the current situation of today’s pandemic, but more importantly it is an indispensable tool that provides ongoing performance to prepare for tomorrow.

Key to the strength of the RESET standard is the wealth of knowledge shared by our RESET Accredited Professionals (APs). RESET APs are professionals who have acute appreciation and understanding of the complexities of air quality; both indoor and out and possess a honed skillset that is direly needed right now. These are indoor air quality champions invested in improving indoor environments through data quality and reporting.

Due to overwhelming requests for the accredited professional program, RESET is offering a series of web-based Education Intensive & Exam sessions online for a limited time and at a reduced fee. The content covered in the virtual sessions is identical to in-person sessions and the exam is administered with the same rigor that has been well-established by the RESET Accredited Professional program. To register, write to us at info@reset.build. For online training modules, visit this link.

At RESET, we realize that in order to solve the problems that a “new normal” brings, it will require courage, creativity and critical thought. We need prepared, ingenious thinkers who can make sound decisions to help lift an entire building stock up to a new level of critique.

If ever there was a call-to-action for a global team of RESET APs, this would be it, this is your moment. You are the essential, frontline workers for the built environment.

If you aren't already a part of the RESET AP force, this is your chance to join us!

For any questions or feedback, or to find out the schedule of our upcoming sessions, please write to us at: training@reset.build.

To view the RESET AP online training modules, visit this link: https://aptraining.reset.build/.